Wire-drawing mechanism



April 21, 1925.

C. W. VAUGHN WIRE DRAWING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eilgcl Jun e 20, 1921 ATTORNEYS April 21, 1925. 1,534,998

- c. w. VAUGHN WIRE DRAWING MECHANISM Filed une 20, 1921 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w a O \v' Pm 1Q 1 I\ v "u m Q INVENTOR- a/V122 1%mrc ay A TTORNEYJ' Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES 3,534,98 PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN W. VAUGHN, F OUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VAUGHN MA- CHINERY COMPANY, OF CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, A CORPORATIQN OF OHIO:

WIRE-DRAWING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 20, 1921. Serial No. 478,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN W. VAUGHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented'a new and'useful Improvement in VVire-Drawing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained, and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions; The present improvements relate more particularly to that type of wire drawing mechanism in which a plurality of drawing blocks or drums are employed in superposed relation, i. 0., one mounted above the other so as to rotate about the same axis. This arrangement of drums obviously renders it possible to make the bench or wire drawing machine much more compact for a given number of passes or turns of the wire being drawn.

It has been a matter of difliculty', however, to provide for the proper driving of drums thus disposed, particularly if a constant ten- 5 sion isto be maintained between successive blocks, between the several sets or between individual members of such sets, respectively. The object of thepresent invention, ac-

cordingly, is to provide a wire-drawing machine ofthe general type referred to in which superposed drums may be satisfactorily employed and be so driven as to increase the speed of the wire in proportion to its reduction in area from one die to the next i following. In its broader aspects such driving mechanism forms the subject matter of a co-pending-application in the name of the present inventor and E. Ransom, filed April 8, 1921, Serial No. 459,730, but in such c0- pending application only the usual individual driving blocks or drums are utilized.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly .pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical/forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

drawing machine embodying my present improvements; Fig. 2 is partly a front elevation of such machine, and partly a longitudinal vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the lines 3-3, Figs. 1 and 2;

five dies are shown in the illustrated machine, the number of these dies may be more or less also that the number of sets of superposed drums or blocks may similarly vary as well as the number of drums in each set; such number of dies and drums depending on the nature of the metal being drawn, which limits the amount of reduction to which the wire is susceptible, by' its becoming too brittle to admit of further reduction without breaking.

The illustrative machine shown in. the drawings comprises a bed 1, supported on suitable frames 2 at its respective ends and intermediate points. Upon the bed 1 are mounted the dies 3, five in number in the particular machine, as previously indicated, which are disposed in proper relation to the several drawing blocks or, drums. The latter, aslikewise indicated above, comprise two sets of superposed drums 4, 4 and a final drum or block 5 located at the right-hand end of the machine, which is designed to finally wind up the wire, although the latter may be carried onto a spooling device (not shown). separate and apart from the machine. Vhere the wire is finally wound up on said block 5 the latter may be provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with an extension 6.

The two sets of superposed drums 4, 4 are mounted in similar fashion. the uppermost drum in each case being fixedly secured upon the upper end of .a vertical shaft 7 suitably journaled or stepped at its lower end in a bearing 8 in the lower part of the frame of the machine. Intermediate-of its two ends said shaft 7 is surrounded by a concentric llO tubular shaft or quill 9 that is journaled in -the bed 1 forming the upper part of the madrum 5 is mounted on a vertical shaft 12 similar to shafts 7, no tubular shaft similar to shaft 9 being required in this case since there is but the one drum.

Said shafts 7 and 9, as well as shaft 12,

are all driven froma single main shaft 13 extending longitudinally of the machine frame along the rear side thereof, power being applied to said shaft 13 through a belt 1 1 and pulley 15, or by other means as desired. Shaft 12 is directly driven from shaft 13 through a transversely disposed horizontal shaft 16and suitable worm gearing (not shown in detail) that is contained in a hous ing 17 (Fig. 1).

The driving connections between each shaft 7 and corresponding shaft 9, and said main shaft 13, however, are such as to permit of the driving of said shafts, not only inclependently of each other, but at independently variable speeds. To this end vertical shafts 20 and 21 are provided, one on each side of each suchshaft 7, and corresponding tubular shaft 9, said shaft 20 being connected with shaft 7 through a pin on 2i and gear 23, said shaft 21 being connected with shaft 9 through a pinion 24 and gear 25, (see Figs. 2 and The connections between main shaft 13 and. shafts 20 and 21 in each case include a vertical shaft 26, mounted directly to the rear of said last-named shaft and intergeared therewith through the medium of a pinion 27 and gear 28, as best shown in figures last mentioned above. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 26 below the previously described gearing is afriction disk 30, the frictional face of which contacts with a friction wheel 31 keyed on shaft 32, so as to be longitudinally shiftable through the medium of a flange 33 on its hub that runs in a yoke 34:, o )eratively connected with one arm 35 of a bell crank lever.

There are, in fact, two such arms 35, as

shown in Fig. a. said arms being carried by a rock shaft 36. The other arm 37 of the bell crank is horizontally disposed, and a cord or line 38 is attached to its end, such cord passingupwardly and over an idler sheave or pulley 39 to the free end of a lever 40 pivotally mounted on the top of the bed 1 so as to be oscillatory in a plane parallel therewith. orshcave ll mounted about a vertical axis on its upper face, and the wire in passing from one block to the next is looped around this pulley, as will be more fully explained in describing the operation of the machine.

In order to bring such wire into proper Such lever carries a grooved pulley section of the wire thus looped around each pulley or disk 41 by counterweighting lever 37, the counterweight 45 for this purpose being preferably carried by the upperend of a vertical rod 46 disposed alongside the vertical portion of cord 38 and attached at its lower end to the outer extremity of said lever. It will be understood that weight 45 may be increased or decreased as circumstances may require.

For the purpose of .insuring proper frictional contact between each driving wheel 31 and corresponding disk 30, a roller 50 mounted in a suitable housing 51 (see Figs. 3 and 4) contacts with the upper face of said disk directly above the shaft 32, on which said wheel 31 is mounted Graduated pressure is applied to said housing, and thus to the roller 50, through the medium of a lever 53 fulcrumed against the under side of the frame and connected to said housing through a boss 54. A weight 55-is adjustable lengthwiseof the free arm of said lever, so that the pressure thus applied to roller 40 may be varied as desired.

Having thus described the construction blocks, thence around the first grooved pulley or sheave through the second die 3 and around the uppermost of the first part of superposed drums or blocks; thence around the adjacent grooved pulley or sheave 41, under the next guide pulley 12 and through the third die 3 to the lowermost of the sec.-

ond pair of superposed drums. The progress of the wire as just described is repeated in connection with the second, and so on for as many pairs as there may be provided on the machine, two such pairs only being shown in the drawings as previously explained.

After passing around the uppermost drum of the final pair the wire is carried over the final grooved wheel or pulley 4:1 and under the last guide pulley 42 to the last guide 3, and thence on to the last block or drum which winds up the finished product. i

'This last drum 5 of the series runs at constant speed, as previously explained, but if any of the preceding drums, whether 'upper orlower, of the successive pairs 'is running too fast, so as to furnish the wire too fast to such terminal drum, or the next following drum in the series, with the result that the section of the wire between the two drums is lengthened, the corresponding weighted rod 46 will drop, thus rocking shaft 3 6, and through the medium'of the cord 38, swinging over lever 4 so as to take up any slack of the wire. The effect of such rocking of shaft 36 will at the same time be to carry the frictional wheel 31, which is slidably mounted on the corresponding shaft 32, nearer the periphery of the friction disk 80, through which the particular drum in question is driven. The rate of rotation of such drum is correspondingly decreased, and further undue lengthening of the section of wire between said drum and the next following drum prevented. Conversely, if any suchdrum is running too slowly so that the loop of wire passing around the tension device and the next following drum is shortened, the corresponding friction wheel, 31, will be automatically moved nearer the center of its friction disk 30, thereby driving the latter faster until a normal speed of draw is again attained.

The advantage in compactness, as well as in simplification in driving mechanism obtained by superposing the drawing blocks or drums will be readily understood. lVith a bed of given size, or, in other words, a machine occupying a given area of floor space, practically twice the number of drawing operations can be performed by use of this arrangement of drums. At the same time the driving of-each drum is positively effected at a speed regulated independently of the speed of the other drums of the series, whether paired with such particular drum or forming a member of another pair. It will of course be understood that if found desirable more than two drums may be thus superimposed by simply employing an additional quill or tubular shaft to carry each extra drum, and connecting the same up through appropriate driving gear with the main driving shaft 13.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being madeas regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. i

I therefore particularlypoint out and distinctly claim as my invent1on:

1. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a plurality of dies, of a corresponding number of drawing drums therefor, superposed in pairs, concentricaliy journaled shafts carrying said drums, respectively, and independent driving means .for said shafts, said means being automatically adpistable to rotate said drums at rates proportioned to the speed at which the wire is drawn through the precedin die.

2. l n mechanism of the character described, the combination with a plurality of dies, of a corresponding number of drawing drums therefor, superposed in pairs, concentrically journaled shafts carrying said drums, respectively, and independent, friction driving means for said shafts, said means being automatically adjustable to rotate said drums at rates proportioned to the speed at which the wire is drawn through the preceding die 3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a plurality of dies, of a corresponding number of drawing drums therefor superposed in pairs, concentrically journaled shafts carrying said drums, respectively, a variable speed drive for each of said drums, and means adapted to maintain a constanttension on the wire between successive dies, said means'being connected to control the drive for the corresponding drum.

4. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a plurality of dies, of a correspondingnumber of drawing drums therefor superposed in pairs, concentrically journaled shafts carrying said drums, respectively, a friction" disk geared to drive each of said drums, a friction wheel driven at a predetermined speed movable radially in and out acrossthe face of said disk, a counter-weighted lever connected to position said wheel, and a movable sheave connected with said lever, the wire between the corresponding pair of dies passing.

around said sheave.

i 5. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a plurality of dies, of a correspondingnumber of drawing drums therefor superposedin pairs, c011- centrically journaled shafts carrying said drums, respectively, a friction disk geared to drive each of said drums, a friction wheel driven at a predetermined speed movable radially in and out across the face of said disk, means adapted to adjust the pressure of saidwheel on said disk, a counterweighted lever connected toposition said. wheel, and a movable sheave connected with said lever, the wire between the corresponding pair of dies:passing around said sheave.

6.'In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a pluralitygif dies, of a corresponding number of draw ing drums therefor superposed in pairs, concentrically journaled shafts carrying said drums, respectively, a friction disk geared to drive each of said drums. a friction wheel driven at a predetermined speed movable radially in and, out across the face of said disk, 21 rock shaft provided with a lever arm connected'topositibn said wheel, an angularly related arm on said shaft, a vertical rod carrying a weight connected with said; second arm, an oscillatory lever carrying a sheave, the wire between the corresponding pair of dies passing around said sheave,

riation in the length of such wire serves to oscillate said'rock-shaft:

7. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a series of dies and corresponding drawing drums therefor, of means adapted to rotate the terminal drum of the series at a predetermined rate, a friction diskgeared to drive each of the other drums, a frict on wheel driven at a predetermined speed movable radially across the face of said disk, a rockshaft provided with a lever-arm connected to position said wheel, an 'angularly related arm on said shaft, avertical rod carrying a weight connected with said second arm, an oscillatory lever carrying a sheave, the wire between the corresponding pair of dies passing around said sheave, and a cord connecting said-second arm with said oscillatory arm, whereby such wire is maintained under constant tension and variation in the length of such wire serves to oscillate said rock-shaft. a

8. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with two dies, of two superposed drawing drums therefor, a tubular shaft" carrying one of said drums, a second shaft journaled within said tubular shaft carrying the other drum, and independentdriving means for said drums, said means including two shafts disposed adja' cent to and parallel with said drum-carrying shafts, and gearing connecting each of the'latter with one of said adjacent shafts.

9. In mechanism of the character de: scribed, the combination with two dies, 01 two superposed drawing drums therefor, a tubular shaft carrying one of said drums, a second shaft journaled within said tubular shaft carrying the other drum, and inde pendent driving means for said drums, said means including two shafts disposed adjacent to and parallel with said drum-carrying shafts, gearing connecting each of the latter with one of said adjacent shafts, and an independent variable speed drive for each such adjacent shaft. f

v 10. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with two dies, of two superposed drawing drums therefor, a tubular shaft carrying one of said drums, a second shaft journaled within said tubular shaft carrying the other drum, and independent driving means for said drums,-said means including two shafts disposed adjacent to and parallel with said drum-carrying shafts, gearing connecting each of the latter with one of said adjacent shafts, and an independent variable speed drive for each such adjacent shaft, controlled by the length of the wire between the corresponding drum and die.

Signed by me, this 15 day of June, 1921.

CALVIN W. vauonx. 

